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Florida is cleaning up junky boats from its waters

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Florida is cleaning up junky boats from its waters


House owners of junky boats will quickly have the ability to flip them in to be destroyed without spending a dime and with out penalty.

Driving the information: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) accepted a brand new rule establishing a vessel turn-in program at its assembly this week.

Why it issues: The brand new program will take away damaged boats from state waters earlier than they turn out to be hazards and will assist save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.

  • Derelict boats — these which might be sinking or have sunk, been dismantled or beached — destroy seagrass assets and endanger marine life. Boaters can crash into derelict vessels that drift on or beneath the water.

State of play: Florida allotted $8.2 million from the state finances towards derelict vessel removing this fiscal yr, and one other $11.7 million has been allotted from federal COVID-19 aid {dollars}.

  • That is a severe bump in funding from the $3.5 million appropriated within the 2021-2022 fiscal yr.
  • In 2020-2021, lower than $2 million was appropriated for derelict vessel removing.

By the numbers: About 580 vessels are listed as derelict within the FWC database. With the brand new funding, FWC anticipates having the ability to take away about 600 derelict vessels.

  • It is a cat-and-mouse recreation, although. On common, 600 new derelict vessels are added to the FWC’s database every year.
  • One hurricane can have a huge effect. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, 954 vessels have been rendered derelict and eliminated.

The way it works: Individuals cited for having boats susceptible to turning into derelict — after they’re floating however have taken on water, damaged free from anchor or misplaced propulsion — are eligible to show in vessels underneath the brand new program.

  • Since July 1, 2021, the FWC has issued 548 citations and 319 warnings for at-risk vessels.
  • Eradicating boats on the “at-risk” stage is less expensive than after they’re derelict. FWC should rent contractors to do removals.

Beware: Anybody discovered responsible of deliberately dumping a vessel can withstand 5 years in jail and/or a $5,000 high-quality.

What they’re saying: FWC spokesperson Rob Klepper advised Axios that “a derelict vessel usually prices between $400-$800 per foot to take away.”

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  • Klepper estimates that eradicating a 30-foot yacht would value between $12,000 and $24,000, “barring any extraordinary circumstances.”

Between the traces: It isn’t very costly to eliminate an previous or damaged boat correctly oneself.

  • In Monroe County, small boats may be dropped off and destroyed for $300, for instance — however house owners usually abandon them on the water.

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Federal judge pauses deadlines in Trump documents case after SCOTUS immunity ruling

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Federal judge pauses deadlines in Trump documents case after SCOTUS immunity ruling


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The federal judge presiding over former President Trump’s Florida case has paused several court deadlines to consider presidential immunity. 

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Trump’s legal team presented a motion Friday seeking “a partial stay of further proceedings” in the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith “until President Trump’s motions based on Presidential immunity and the Appointments and Appropriations Clauses are resolved.”

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Saturday agreed to hear arguments, allowing two weeks for both camps to prepare briefs regarding the relevance of the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity.

TRUMP ASKS FLORIDA COURT TO PAUSE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AFTER SUPREME COURT IMMUNITY DECISION

Former President Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign rally at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump faces charges from Smith’s investigation into his possession of classified materials. 

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He pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony counts from Smith’s probe, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.

TRUMP IMMUNITY CASE: SUPREME COURT RULES EX-PRESIDENTS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION FROM PROSECUTION

Trump was also charged with an additional three counts as part of a superseding indictment from the investigation, an additional count of willful retention of national defense information and two additional obstruction counts.

Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse

The Alto Lee Adams, Sr. United States Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Fla., where U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is presiding over the case of former President Trump.  (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court ruled Monday in the Trump v. United States case that a former president has substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office but not for unofficial acts.

In a 6-3 decision, the court sent the matter back to a lower court when the justices did not apply the ruling to whether former President Trump is immune from prosecution regarding actions related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

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Walt Nauta

Walt Nauta, left, an aide to former President Trump, walks with his lawyer, Stanley Woodward, right, as they leave the Alto Lee Adams, Sr. United States Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Fla.  (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

“The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. 

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.



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Florida Gators Expectations – Embracing Underdog Role

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Florida Gators Expectations – Embracing Underdog Role


For the first time in recent memory, the University of Florida heads into a football season a decided underdog in eight of its twelve games. DraftKings places the over/under on win total for the Gators at a paltry 4.5. Pundits from Bristol, Conn. to Atlanta look ready to play a dirge for a season that hasn’t started yet. 

As a result, a palpable sense of worry flows through the fanbase. Cursed with an unbelievably tough schedule, the Gators, in the eyes of many, appear headed for a disastrous 2024 season. Yet, something feels different. No one told the football team that their season ended before it started. Ignore those folks and enjoy the games ahead. 

The Schedule

Make no mistake, Florida will play a brutal schedule against some of the SEC’s top teams. During the month of November, Florida plays Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State. Not to mention, Tennessee and Texas A&M show up early in the season. 

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On paper, all of these teams possess top-tier offenses, defenses, and coaching. Their rosters bubble over with blue-chip prospects and All-Americans. Correspondingly, NFL scouts representing all thirty-two franchises will attend these matchups. In a way, the schedule makers will end up helping the Gators more than anything else. 

The Hotseat

As profiled here and everywhere, Billy Napier needs a great showing to keep his job. He knows this, and fully understands the situation at hand. In all honesty, that fact should help the Gators. Napier comprehends the deal. In movie imagery, he will make his last stand in The Swamp. 

With pundits already choosing his successor via content, and those coaches looking at Zillow for homes in Alachua County, no play drawn looks unreasonable. With a job to lose, but a $32-million buyout, Napier can coach with a clear mind. The worst the school can do is fire him and pay an eight-figure buyout. No opponent will rattle Napier and his team. 

Upside

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Florida enters the season with a seasoned quarterback, within a system he thrives. Graham Mertz fits the scheme. Only three of Florida’s opponents will return a starting quarterback. As a result, many will use this season as a way of grasping a system. 

Meanwhile, Mertz will head in to games with a feeling that his opponent will not. Moreover, six of Florida’s games occur in The Swamp. With 89,000 people, a majority clad in blue and orange, home-field becomes that much more important.

Opponent Expectations Burden

People continue to underdiscuss what Florida’s opponents will face. Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida State, TAMU, and Tennessee all have playoff expectations. Probability being what they are, a couple of those teams will lose multiple games. Under those circumstances, their fate changes from a certain home game to possibly playing on the road or potential omission from the process altogether. 

One of these opposing will exhibit some variation of posterior puckering, making bad decisions, leading to an upset by Florida. Since 1988, only three Gator seasons ended with five or fewer wins. Somehow, somewhere, probably multiple teams will fall. Plus, the karmic nature of college football dictates conference chaos.

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Florida Senate GOP candidate faces September trial in $48K theft case involving an HOA

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Florida Senate GOP candidate faces September trial in $48K theft case involving an HOA


LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A candidate for Florida Senate this August is facing charges of grand theft in Orange County involving a homeowner’s association, with a trial scheduled to start in September.

Cheryl Blancett, 63, is facing charges that stem from a years-long investigation into the theft of nearly $48,000 from a homeowners association for a neighborhood in east Orange County. According to the arrest report, the officers for the Sawgrass Estates HOA hired Blancett to manage their subdivision from April 2018 to August 2019.

The investigators accuse Blancett of intermingling the HOA funds with her personal funds, using money for personal expenses and purchases that were not approved HOA expenses.

They believe Blancett ended up taking $47,22.34 from the HOA. She has pleaded not guilty.

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[RESULTS 2024: Want to vote in Florida? Here’s how to register and make sure you are eligible]

Blancett is running to be the Republican candidate in the Florida Senate District 13 race, representing parts of Orange and Lake counties. She is on the ballot as “CJ” Blancett.

She faces businessman Bowen Kou and outgoing Florida House Rep. Keith Truenow in the Republican primary on Aug. 20. Kou is currently suing the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee for libel over a political mailer that questions whether he and his donors have any ties to the Chinese government (Kou is an American citizen). The mailer was sent out on Truenow’s behalf and cites his approval.

The winner of the Aug. 20 primary will face Democrat Stephanie Dukes in November.

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